My Rows and Piles of Coins (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

I bought this book for my child and it was truly wonderful. We learned how to pronounce different words, and it thought a wonderful lesson as well.

With so many schools adopting some form of character education, this book is a must for any teacher's collection. I have read this book with first and second graders and I've read it with seventh and eighth graders, too. With both groups the book holds their attention and forces them to think critically about how they view their own small worlds. Kids naturally place themselves at the center of their worlds. This book eloquently makes them take a step back and consider the feelings of others. The book has allowed me to engage kids of all ages in discussions about gratitude and what it means to do for others. Chris Bowen Author of, "Our Kids: Building Relationships in the Classroom"

This story, set in Tanzania in the 1960's, is about a boy who wants a bicycle to help his mother carry loads of produce to the market. The boy saves up his money to buy the bicycle, occasionally getting the money out of his secret box, putting it into neat piles, and counting it up. There are a couple of places in the book where the boy is laughed at as he tries to accomplish his goal. The reader feels for the boy as he goes to the market to buy the bike and is laughed at because he doesn't have enough money. The author helps the reader to understand that there may be obstacles that you have to overcome in order to be successful. A good picture book to use with 3rd and 4th graders to discuss character traits, cause and effect, sequential details, plot. Drawing conclusions- at the very end of the book it shows the boy counting up his money again- students can conclude that he will buy his mother a cart for her load. Themes in the book: patience, perseverance, helping others, determination.

The young boy in this story shows exceptional selflessness and a touching concern for his mother's well-being when his dream is to get a bicycle so that he can help her carry their load of goods to market. Truly a wonderful storyline. The illustrations are superb; not only do they accurately depict village life, but they are simply beautiful in their own right, and convey the emotion of the text, for example, the look on the father's face as the boy falls off the bicycle. The familial love in this story is extraordinary, without being the least bit saccharine. A gem.

This book is so beautifully illustrated and written. The story line of saving money for a desired purchase (a red and blue bike), took me back to my own childhood. Readers can feel the child's disappointment over not having enough money. As a wonderful addition, the child wants to save for a bike in order to help his mother carry her heavy loads. This was a truly enjoyable read.